Functional and mutational characterization of human MIA40 acting during import into the mitochondrial intermembrane space

A first component involved in import into the mitochondrial intermembrane space, named Mia40, has been described recently in yeast. Here, we identified the human MIA40 as a novel and ubiquitously expressed component of human mitochondria. It belongs to a novel protein family whose members share six highly conserved cysteine residues constituting a -CXC-CX9C-CX9C- motif. Human MIA40 is significantly smaller than the fungal protein and lacks the N-terminal extension including a transmembrane region and mitochondrial targeting signal. It forms soluble complexes within the intermembrane space of human mitochondria. Depletion of MIA40 in human cells by RNA interference specifically affected steady-state levels of small and cysteine-containing intermembrane space proteins like DDP1 and TIM10A, suggesting that MIA40 acts along the import pathway into the intermembrane space. Studies on the in vivo redox state of human MIA40 demonstrated that it contains intramolecular disulfide bonds. Thiol-trapping assays revealed the co-existence of different oxidation states of human MIA40 within the cell. Furthermore, we show that the twin -CX9C- motif is specifically required for import and stability of MIA40 in mitochondria. Partial mutation of this motif affects stable accumulation of MIA40 in the intermembrane space, whereas mutation of all cysteine residues in this motif inhibits import in mitochondria. Taken together, we conclude that the biogenesis and function of MIA40 in the mitochondrial intermembrane space is dependent on redox processes involving conserved cysteine residues.     

The interaction of platinum complexes with nucleosomes investigated with fluorescent probes

The fluorescent probes, N-(3-pyrene)maleimide, which is specific for histone H3, and terbium (Tb³⁺), which is specific for guanine single-stranded residues in DNA, are used to investigate the interaction of platinum complexes (cis- and trans-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)) with rat liver and calf thymus nucleosomes. At low concentrations of the drug, lower than most of those reported previously in studies investigating the interaction of the drugs with isolated DNA, N-(3-pyrene)maleimide studies show that profound modifications occur near or in the cysteinyl binding site of histone H3. H3 dimer formation appears to be the cause of the change induced by trans-DDP; however, the effects observed with the cis-isomer do not seem to be correlated with dimer formation. At short incubation times, Tb³⁺ fluorescence shows small changes in DNA conformation, but they are slight when compared to the effect observed with proteins at the same length of incubation. SDS-polyacrylamide gels indicate some changes in protein composition, and agarose gels display a decrease in ethidium bromide staining of the cis-treated DNA. The results suggest that the protein portion, predominantly histone H3, as well as DNA are targets for the platinum derivatives in the nucleosome.     

TRAIL联合顺铂对小鼠移植型肝癌抑制作用及机制研究

目的探讨肿瘤坏死因子相关的凋亡诱导配体(tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand,TRAIL)联合顺铂(cisplatin,DDP)对小鼠移植型肝癌的抑制作用及机制。方法将H22小鼠移植型肝癌模型随机分为生理盐水组、TRAIL组、TRAIL+DDP组和DDP组,称取瘤重并分析抑瘤率,Hoechst 33342荧光染色法检测细胞凋亡,免疫组织化学染色检测Caspase-3表达。结果与生理盐水组比较,TRAIL、DDP对小鼠移植型肝癌生长具有明显的抑制作用(P<0.05);TRAIL与DDP联合用药具有增效作用(P<0.05),可明显提高肝癌细胞的凋亡率(P<0.05)、上调Caspase-3表达(P<0.01)。结论 TRAIL与DDP联合用药对小鼠移植型肝癌生长具有协同抑制作用,其机制可能与其协同促进Caspase-3的表达有关。     

不同化疗方案对晚期非小细胞肺癌患者骨髓抑制及免疫功能的影响

目的:探讨不同化疗方案对晚期非小细胞肺癌患者骨髓抑制及免疫功能的影响。方法:选取2011年1月至2013年12月收治的130例晚期非小细胞肺癌患者,按照知情同意原则随机分为三组:NP(长春瑞滨+顺铂)组45例、GP(吉西他滨+顺铂)组43例、TP(紫杉醇+顺铂)组42例,分别于化疗前及化疗2个周期后检测患者的骨髓抑制及免疫水平。结果:三种化疗方案进行治疗后骨髓抑制水平由高到低排列为GP组、TP组、NP组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);GP组血小板减少发生率高于其他两组,TP组白细胞下降发生率高于其他两组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);三组患者化疗后的免疫功能指标均较化疗前低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。三种化疗方案进行治疗后免疫功能抑制水平由高到低排列为GP组、TP组、NP组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:GP组患者血小板下降更明显,TP组白细胞下降更为明显,NP组对骨髓抑制及免疫功能抑制较缓和,更适于老年人,因此临床选择化疗方案时要综合考虑患者骨髓状况、免疫功能情况及年龄等。     

Analysing the contribution of nucleic acids to the structure and properties of centric heterochromatin

A class of repetitive DNA sequences frequently found at centromeric regions are R/Y-satellites showing an asymmetric distribution of residues resulting in one strand being rich in purines (R-strand) while the complementary strand is pyrimidine-rich (Y-strand). The dodeca-satellite of Drosophila belongs to this class of centromeric satellites. In vitro, the dodeca-satellite forms altered DNA structures in which the R-strand forms very stable intramolecular fold-backs that are stabilised by the formation of tandem G · A mismatches. A single-stranded nucleic acids binding protein, DDP1, binds the unstructured dodeca-satellite Y-strand with high affinity. In polytene chromosomes, DDP1 associates with the heterochromatic chromocenter and, at the euchromatic chromosome arms, co-localises with HP1. DDP1 is a vigilin. Vigilins are highly conserved multi-KH-domain proteins. Scp160p, the vigilin from S. cerevisiae, is involved in the control of ploidy. DDP1 complements a scp160 deletion.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of glyoxal and methylglyoxal in urine by prederivatization to lumazinic rings using in serial fast scan fluorimetric and diode array detectors

Glyoxal and methylglyoxal are two important markers of oxidative stress and both are involved in the evaluation of several diseases. A new HPLC method for determining glyoxal and methylglyoxal in urine was developed. The method is based on the reaction of alpha-dialdehydes, glyoxal and methylglyoxal, with 5,6-diamino-2,4-hydroxypyrimidine sulfate in basic medium to form highly fluorescent lumazine derivatives. Creatinine was also included in the method even though it does not react with the reagent. The derivatives and creatinine are separated on a C(18) reversed-phase column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile:citrate buffer, pH 6.0 (3:97 v/v). The flow rate was 1.0mLmin(-1) and the effluent was monitored photometrically at 250 nm for determination of creatinine and fluorimetrically at 500 nm (exciting at 330 nm) for determination of glyoxal and methylglyoxal derivatives. Recording time of the separation is less than 10 min. Determination of the analytes is performed in urine after incubation of the sample, with the reagent in alkaline medium, for 30 min at 60 degrees C. Urinary levels of glyoxal and methylglyoxal, expressed as glyoxal/creatinine and methylglyoxal/creatinine ratios, in healthy young women and men were determined. For women, values of 0.80+/-0.37 and 0.60+/-0.22 microg/mg of creatinine were found for glyoxal and methylglyoxal, respectively. For men, values of 0.63+/-0.15 and 0.49+/-0.05 microg/mg of creatinine were found for glyoxal and methylglyoxal, respectively. These results were also related to the body mass index of each individual.     

Unresectable recurrence malignant sacrococcygeal teratoma in children treated with chemoradiotherapy: Case report and literature review

Sacrococcygeal teratoma is the most common germ cell neoplasia that consists of tissues derived from primitive germ layers. Approximately 10–20% of patients are malignant. Because of the high rate of recurrence, treatment strategies for malignant sacrococcygeal teratomas are limited. Hence, we report a case of malignant sacrococcygeal teratoma treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy and review the literature. This case report indicates that chemoradiation plus adjuvant chemotherapy may be a treatment option for malignant SCT which is not technically resectable or with residual lesion after surgery.     

Influence of poly(ethylene glycol) grafting density and polymer length on liposomes: Relating plasma circulation lifetimes to protein binding

The incorporation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-conjugated lipids in lipid-based carriers substantially prolongs the circulation lifetime of liposomes. However, the mechanism(s) by which PEG-lipids achieve this have not been fully elucidated. It is believed that PEG-lipids mediate steric stabilization, ultimately reducing surface-surface interactions including the aggregation of liposomes and/or adsorption of plasma proteins. The purpose of the studies described here was to compare the effects of PEG-lipid incorporation in liposomes on protein binding, liposome-liposome aggregation and pharmacokinetics in mice. Cholesterol-free liposomes were chosen because of their increasing importance as liposomal delivery systems and their marked sensitivity to protein binding and aggregation. Specifically, liposomes containing various molecular weight PEG-lipids at a variety of molar proportions were analyzed for in vivo clearance, aggregation state (size exclusion chromatography, quasi-elastic light scattering, cryo-transmission and freeze fracture electron microscopy) as well as in vitro and in vivo protein binding. The results indicated that as little as 0.5 mol% of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) modified with PEG having a mean molecular weight of 2000 (DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀) substantially increased plasma circulation longevity of liposomes prepared of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC). Optimal plasma circulation lifetimes could be achieved with 2 mol% DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀. At this proportion of DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀, the aggregation of DSPC-based liposomes was completely precluded. However, the total protein adsorption and the protein profile was not influenced by the level of DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀ in the membrane. These studies suggest that PEG-lipids reduce the in vivo clearance of cholesterol-free liposomal formulations primarily by inhibition of surface interactions, particularly liposome-liposome aggregation.